To Fondle Nothing
Charles Bukowski meets Lewis Carroll in this direct-address rendering of a work of rhymed and metered, borderline-nonsense verse. The film is a droll, yet doggedly whimsical, exploration of the philosophical impulse, set among a household’s menagerie of animal figurines, stuffed, carved or otherwise, and further embellished by select artifacts of pandemicana.
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Over two production sessions, in May 2020 (under pandemic lockdown) and April 2021, Charles wrote, performed, shot (on an iPhone 7 Plus), directed, edited, and scored this 6' 37" linguistic debauch all by his lonesome. Charles extends his profound thanks to Steven W. Howell, of Monte Rio, CA, and Walter White, of Manteca, CA, for their invaluable material support.
#16
Versi di Luce
Modica, Sicily
Dec. 16-18, 2021
The film screened live on Dec. 16 in this festival (Verses of Light") devoted entirely to the intersection of poetry and film.
#15
Newcastle International Short Film Festival
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Dec. 10-11, 2021
Honorable Mention! International Shorts 5-20 minutes long.
#14
Rieti & Sabina Film Festival, Rome, Italy Nov. 24-25, 2021
Official Selection in the festival's new "Special Section about 'Corona-Virus'...how the world has been affected by the Plague of COVID-19, and how the worldwide population has reacted to this unexpected Monster."
#13
MikroFAF -- International DIY and Indie Short Film Festival, Belgrade, Serbia
Official Selection, DIY shorts. Screened November 13, 2021--Live European premiere!
Charles attended the festival! This background photo was taken in Kalemegdan Park in Belgrade. The photo at the top of this page is the statue in Republic Square.
#12
International Art Film Festival, London, U.K.
Official Selection, Poetry Short Film. Screened online December 3, 2021.
#11
Luleå International Film Festival, Luleå, Sweden
Finalist, September 2021, Covid-19 shorts/First Time Filmmaker
#10
Make Art Not Fear Film Festival, Porto, Portugal
Official Selection, Poetry Short. Hybrid event, outside Porto, October 2021.
#9
Best Istanbul Film Festival, Istanbul, Turkey
September 2021.
#8
Sweden Film Awards
First Time Short Filmmaker/Short Trailer, September 2021.
#7
Europe Film Festival, London, U.K.
August 2021.
#6
Black Bear Film Festival, Milford, Pennsylvania
Experimental shorts, screened October 16, 2021--North American premiere!. Charles Leggett attended the festival!
#5
Halicarnassus Film Festival, Bodrum, Turkey
August 2021. Halicarnassus was an ancient Greek settlement in Anatolia on the Gulf of Gökova, the site of modern-day Bodrum. It boasts one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the Tomb of Mausolus, from which the word mausoleum is derived.
#4
Sands Film Festival, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Experimental shorts, screened online October 22-31, 2021.
#3
Frostbite International Indie Fest, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Comedy short/quarantine, August 2021. Two of the several email submission invitations I have received from festivals have mentioned learning of TFN via its appearance in this festival.
#2
Auber International Film Festival, Aubervilliers, Paris, France
WINNER, Best Mobile Phone Short, July 2021.
#1
New York Flash Film Festival, NYC, NY
Smartphone short, July 2021.